Brass Tacks - Where Can I Get Some?

[ClaireAshton]

Hi,

I occasionally do wet moulding for tool sheaths, bags etc. What I need are some tacks that do not stain the leather, the only ones I can get locally or online in the UK are just steel and rust immediately and stain the leather. Not an issue so far as I tend to use dark colours, but I want to try a bag in an undied colour ie pale beige.

In Al Stohlman's books he mentions HAND or SHOE tacks but all the local cobblers say even they can[t get them.

So....... HELP!

Best Wishes

Claire

PS The quantity I need is about 50-100 or so if reuseable.

[chevvy64]

Google search for "brass escutcheon pins", should get you loads of panel pin style ones, cheap and disposable. Other than that all I can think of is drawing pins or upholstry pins if you want to reuse them.

Hope that helps

[cac]

Sheridan Leather has brass and stainless escutcheon pins.They advertise on this site.

[ClaireAshton]

Thanks for the ideas, but I was hoping for tacks (ie flat sided) as I find they 'grip' the leather better. I can source the escutcheon pins etc in the UK but not solid brass tacks.

Best Wishes

Claire

[HellfireJack]

I use brass plated finish nails from my local hardware store. Square profile tacks are going to be hard to come by I think.

This place sells brass plated one. Hope that helps.

http://www.architecturals.net/trunk-tack-brass-plated-1-inch/

[chevvy64]

Not sure if these are similar to what you are looking for, about half way down the page. Picture is really small so hard to see but you could alwas give them a ring to check http://www.brasstacksfurniture.co.uk/supplies.html

[Horrrk]

Hi Claire.. I just did a quick search on Google and came up with this place, here in the UK..

May be of some use to ya.. Looks like you can order them by the 10g or 100g pack..

http://www.alwayshobbies.com/Tools-$4-Materials/Fixings-and-Hinges/Fret-Pins/Brass-Fret-Pins.ice

Regards

Phil

[ClaireAshton]

Hi

Finally managed to get some on eBay.co.uk

They are solid brass tacks and they are the only place I have managed to source any from. They are, I suspect, salvage of some kind as I ran a magnet through them and about 10% were steel or iron based tacks.

So I shall be very carefil with the ones I got as I'm sure I'll never find any more!

Thanks for all the suggestions....

Best Wishes

Claire

[esheeran]

Claire,

I have purchased solid brass "Clinching nails" for use in shoemaking. You need to use an anvil with them as they have a side point and are designed to strike the anvil and curve back up to the head of the tack. I purchased them from Zackwhite.com. They also sell brass "lace tacks". http://www.zackwhite.com/2532-12-Solid-Brass-Lace-Tacks-1oz-Pack--TT95912_p_3655.html

I'm not quite sure what they are for, but seem to have a square shaft and may be useful to you. I don't know about UK suppliers, sorry.

Regards,

Betsy

[ClaireAshton]

Hi Betsy,

Thanks for thought on Brass Tacks. As I said in my post, I did get some on Ebay which did the job. Since then I have had better results from wet moulding using a former and a top plate pressing down, using clamps until dry. Far smoother and less damage in the stitching area. On one bad I made, I ended up lacing instead of stitching, which was done to hide tack holes too close to the bag.

Best Wishes

Claire